Flight Safety Paris - Good or Bad ??

[smudge10]

Thinking of Citation V rating at FS Paris.

Any feedback on course, accom, sim and instructors good or bad would be really appreciated.

Thanx

[N1 and ITT]

Generally I think all these centers (FSI, SimuFlite, etc.) do a very similar job. Not outstanding, but neither total waste of time. They get you to your papers you need and that's their purpose. Knowing your aircraft and its systems in the end is very often your own job (home study...) The quality rise and falls with your instructors. But this was all discussed before...

Now: Paris FSI has an "ok" facility, built I guess some 10, 15 years ago. It starts to get a bit shabby, but they try to impress you with new latrines etc. They have 2 or 3 coffee and vending machines, 2 internet computers (though one is u/s since 1953) and sometimes croissants and fruits in the morning.

The sims are well maintained and especially the Cit II / V is better than the ones I saw in the US.

They know JAR rules and the center managers assistant really helps you with paperwork if necessary.

Be aware of the french union rules applied to the whole FSI staff: absolutely and definitly no working friday after 4:30pm and before monday morning. Expect to take approx. 10 to 20% more time to complete an initial course compared to somewhere else.

So prepare for lonesome and maybe boring weekends. Don't even think of getting into the center and touch something sat/sun: they keep you as a cleaning lady... You better visit Paris and have a good time there. (takes about 1.5 hours into city)

Hotel-wise you have the choice between the Kyriad and the Novotel. Kyriad is about 5 mins walk, the Novotel maybe 15. Both very similar, Novotel has the better kitchen and the bar is open a bit longer... Pricing is about the same I think.

Eating there is a real problem (not at all the country if cooking...): You might check out the cantine just across the street, for which you can buy tickets at the reception. It's sometimes awful, sometimes ok, but definitly inexpensive. Good coffee though...

Second option - but a bit more expensive - is the PrivatAir lounge a bit down the road. There you get crock monsieur et madame and sandwiches. And meet the nicest bar maid in whole europe... Ah, cette famme!

For dinner leave (I mean: leave!) the hotel and check out the chinese and arabic restaurants down the big road into Le Bourget. They are surprisingly good. Be careful: some people have been robbed on these streets during night.

If you live in europe and need JAR, I'd go for Paris if it's only a two weeks course (citation?). But if stuck there for 4 weeks or even more, you better schedule some sessions with your analyst or buy a ticket for the US. (where they hassle you to madness with their DOJ approval crab)

I hope this helps,

N1

[smudge10]

CheersN1

Loads of info there with some useful tips to work around.

Thanks again.

[Shockwaves]

Smudge 10

Have you had any luck with a response via email from Paris? Do you have an indication of the cost of their course?

I've managed to get hold of dates and the course seems to be run fairly regularly so maybe see you out there!

With thanks.

S.

[smudge10]

Shockwaves

Have recieved e-mail attachments from Paris with costs, accom etc.

If you PM me your e-mail I will send them over.

N

P.S Am thinking of doing it in June or July how does that fit in with you.

P.P.S See if they will give a dual course booking reduction.

[Shockwaves]

Smudge10

PM enroute!

[doubleu-anker]

Bad

A very poor imitation of FSI USA.

I did a Falcon rating there not so long ago. Had a North Africian instructor and a follow student who would only communicate in French, when it suited them, when in the sim and class room. This among other things gave me a very poor impression.

I very bad experience indeed.

[Mzee]

FlightSafety are putting in quite a few Sims at Farnborough probably not Cit X but shows what they (FS) think of operating in Paris!